Forthcoming Lists Discussion and Random Speculation Vol. 4

[domino harvey]

We're in Bizarro Retail World where December gets lavished and January shafted

[bamwc2]

Richard III isn't Korda. I assume such a set would feature stuff like 21 Days and The Divorce of Lady X. Though I would love for the later to get on Blu.

Exactly what I meant: the pre-Rebecca films on Hulu.

[Perkins Cobb]

Sweet, I actually had the DVD of Ivan's Childhood out from the library last month but didn't get to it; now I'll see it for the first time on Blu.

Pierre Etaix will be in NYC on Friday for a Film Forum run of the films, so it would make sense for Criterion to announce it in this round ... unless, it's not an Eclipse and they've waited for his visit to record extras.

[Jack Phillips]

Richard III isn't Korda.

It certainly is. It's the other two Shakespeare films that aren't.

[Cinephrenic]

Nice slate, but weak month. Probably a huge month for February, with a big set of Oshima or Rossellini.

[Noiradelic]

We're in Bizarro Retail World where December gets lavished and January shafted

It's as if for December they're playing catch-up with new releases and for January they're playing catch-up with Blu upgrades. Obviously, the production schedule didn't allow it, but it would've made more sense the other way around.

[ryannichols7]

I can't help but feel like the Tarkovsky, Wenders, and Hellman releases are supposed to be significant...we know Andrei Rublev, the Road Trilogy/American Friend/Until the End of the World, and Ride in the Whirlwind/The Shooting are all on the horizon, so I wonder if Criterion is giving us an appetizer as they did with the Veronique upgrade in 2011, which led to the Three Colors box. just some kind of thought. because while Ivan's Childhood and Pina are both great films, they're not the most requested by their respective directors. then again, it could all just be consolation prizes.

I'll place a guess now that Ugetsu and Sansho will be bluray-ed in February.

[movielocke]

I haven't seen Man Who Knew Too Much since before PD dvds started popping up everywhere, the last time I watched it was a rather worse for wear VHS tenish or more years ago. Very much looking forward to the Bluray.

Pina I will probably have to buy immediately. Not sure I can wait for a July sale. I've been talking about it for over a year and my wife is getting impatient to see it (since she wasn't able to make the screening I caught last year). My TV is 3d capable, and I think I've got the right cables/player to do 3D. But I bought my TV on Amazon and didn't get one of those package deals where they give you 10 pairs of glasses for free. I bought a Panasonic and I'm pretty sure the glasses are about 100 each, so I seriously doubt I'll be buying the glasses. Additionally our TV is unfortunately mounted above the fireplace mantle (no where else to put it) rather than at seated-eye level, and I think I've heard that 3D TV basically doesn't work if you are looking at a slight up angle.

[Minkin]

Did we know about the Hitchcock before? Either way I'll be glad to drop my old disc especially with the Truffaut interview (even though I wish they would just put the whole thing there).

I don't think there ever was anything outright confirmed, but it's one of those titles I kinda expected at some point for years.

Come on guys, it was only two months ago.

Has TMWKTM ever received a decent, non-PD-bandit release? I absolutely love the '34 version of the film (can't stand the remake) and have been always hoping for more British Hitchcock films in the collection.

I dug up some information a while ago that pointed to Hitchcock's Number 17 being a possible Janus title. Ian also mentioned Secret Agent. Would be interesting to find out who TMWKTM was licensed from (though I'm sure somebody already knows right away and will chime right in). I know that Criterion doesn't need a license for these PD films, but they mentioned that they get permission for them - to secure the best prints.

So, what other Pre-Rebecca films might we see? Are all of the BFI restored Hitchcock owned by Studio Canal in the US (or none or some of them?). If we're just going by the PD Hitchcock four film set that I've had forever, Sabotage will be next

[Peacock]

Nice slate, but weak month. Probably a huge month for February, with a big set of Oshima or Rossellini.

According to T Gallagher a week or two ago, (very sadly) Criterion aren't working on any Rossellini at the moment... and I'm sure he would be involved from the beginning to select versions/dubs etc if they were.

[HistoryProf]

gotta be the weakest January ever. one niche new release and an older Hitchock is all we get added? This is way more like a December line-up. very disappointing.

[mfunk9786]

Yeah, fuck Hitchock

[Jeff]

gotta be the weakest January ever. one niche new release and an older Hitchock is all we get added? This is way more like a December line-up. very disappointing.

But the December lineup was particularly outstanding, so let's call it a wash.

[dustybooks]

Has TMWKTM ever received a decent, non-PD-bandit release?

None that I'm aware of, and none that appear on DaveyP's Hitchcock Wiki (which is a bit outdated now I think, so I could be wrong). I've owned about eight different copies of the film on various formats and I've never seen a transfer from a print that appeared to be in good condition. That's one reason I feel this is the best Hitchcock Criterion could've chosen to focus on -- it's an important one in his filmography and it hasn't been given proper attention for ages. Bring on Secret Agent next, though!

I dug up some information a while ago that pointed to Hitchcock's Number 17 being a possible Janus title.

This probably doesn't belong on this thread, but Number Seventeen is my least favorite Hitchcock film, frankly (and unfairly) because I'm completely baffled by the plot and all DVDs I've seen have such a muddy dialogue track that I can't discern what's happening. So I can't decide if this means I love or hate the idea of a Criterion edition.

Would be interesting to find out who TMWKTM was licensed from (though I'm sure somebody already knows right away and will chime right in).

On this thread, it was uncovered that the '34 version still appears to be owned in the US by Paramount. Which seems bizarre, given that they no longer own the remake that they actually produced, but there we have it. (Adding to the confusion, when I look up the film on the movie licensing site we use at my library, it comes up as a Universal title... but they get lots of things wrong over there.)

[Jeff]

Would be interesting to find out who TMWKTM was licensed from (though I'm sure somebody already knows right away and will chime right in).

On this thread, it was uncovered that the '34 version still appears to be owned in the US by Paramount. Which seems bizarre, given that they no longer own the remake that they actually produced, but there we have it. (Adding to the confusion, when I look up the film on the movie licensing site we use at my library, it comes up as a Universal title... but they get lots of things wrong over there.)

For what it's worth, neither Paramount nor Universal are credited on the sell sheet Criterion put out today. It's credited only to Janus. I'm guessing the final product will be licensed from ITV like The 39 Steps and The Lady Vanishes.

[Calvin]

The Wexner Center will be live streaming their Criterion conversation at 7pm EST, at wexarts.org/live

[andyli]

For what it's worth, neither Paramount nor Universal are credited on the sell sheet Criterion put out today. It's credited only to Janus. I'm guessing the final product will be licensed from ITV like The 39 Steps and The Lady Vanishes.

The sell sheet of The 39 Steps does have the logo of itv studios on it though.

[ryannichols7]

The Wexner Center will be live streaming their Criterion conversation at 7pm EST, at wexarts.org/live

highly recommended that everyone watches this, as the conversations in the past have been incredibly insightful. plus, we may get an update on the Apu Trilogy and also the MGM titles, since the two films they're presenting (Decameron and Sunday Bloody Sunday) are MGMs...I hope they get asked about Red River and if they'll be including the different versions (please)

[MichaelB]

So, what other Pre-Rebecca films might we see? Are all of the BFI restored Hitchcock owned by Studio Canal in the US (or none or some of them?).

Studio Canal owns the world rights to five of the silent Hitchcocks, ITV the rights to the other four (plus The Mountain Eagle if it ever turns up again).

With regard to US distribution, I understand Rialto (representing Studio Canal) and Park Circus (representing ITV) are joining forces to present "the Hitchcock Nine" at some point in 2013 - presumably theatrically at first; I'm not sure about DVD/BD.

[jwd5275]

And what of the other three Gaumont Hitchcocks? While I suspect they may not want to touch Young and Innocent, restored editions of Secret Agent and Sabotage, perhaps packaged together, would be quite nice.

[MichaelB]

Why would they be prejudiced against Young and Innocent?

Granted, a Blu-ray would make the notorious mid-point model work even more glaringly obvious (I saw it in 35mm for the first time), but the climactic crane shot is one of the most impressive and audacious technical achievements that Hitchcock pulled off before he got a Hollywood studio to play with.

[knives]

I wish they would touch Young and Innocent that's a very fun little thing and seems the perfect warmup to The 39 Steps.

[jwd5275]

Kind of assumed the extensive black-face wouldn't play too well over here in the states. Same reason I figured James Whale's Showboat hasn't been available since VHS days...

[MichaelB]

My first DVD of it was released on a US label.

[knives]

All of the copies I've gotten have been from Canada, but I severely doubt a scene of blackface would halt the release of a Hitchcock title of all things. Maybe if was an obscurity with every scene in blackface.